Over/unders for the 2012 Celtics

<b>By Gary Dzen/Boston.com Staff </b><br>The Celtics rubbed elbows with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, exceeding expectations before bowing out of the playoffs in Game 7. Expectations are higher this season, but as is the case with expectations of any kind, results are subject to change. Will the Celtics win more than 50 games? Will Rajon Rondo lead the league in assists? Take a look and vote on some over/unders.
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<b>Rajon Rondo: 12.5 assists per game</b>
Rondo led the league with an average of 11.7 assists last season, one full assist more than Steve Nash and the highest average of Rondo's career. Rondo's assist totals have gone up every season. Can he keep climbing? With the addition of Jason Terry and the emergence of Avery Bradley, Rondo has more help this season in the backcourt. Will that curtail his improvement?
<b>Prediction: Under</b><br>
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<b>Paul Pierce: 20.0 points per game</b>
Pierce's 20.5 points per game last season was his first average of 20 points or more in the Big Three era (he'd been over 19.4 points per game four straight seasons). The scoring burden is conceivably less with the additions of Jeff Green, Jason Terry, and Courtney Lee, though Ray Allen is gone. We'll go under on this one. <br><b>Prediction: Under</b>
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<b>Jared Sullinger: One start</b>
The starting power forward job is Brandon Bass's to lose. Bass was the starter last season and acquitted himself well as the Celtics made a playoff run. He's not much of a rebounder, though, and that's where Sullinger could come in. Sullinger averaged 9.2 rebounds in 30.4 minutes per game at Ohio State. That projects out to 14.5 rebounds/48 minutes, which would have put him 18th in the NBA last season. It might take an injury, but look for Sullinger to crack the starting lineup, especially after a solid preseason.
<b>Prediction: Over</b>
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<b>Jeff Green: 30 minutes/game</b>
Green averaged 37 minutes per game in 49 games for Oklahoma City before being traded to the Celtics in 2011. Green's minutes went down sharply in Boston, to 23.5. Health is obviously a concern for Green, who missed last season with following heart surgery. Green should play a major role this season at multiple positions.
<b>Prediction: Over</b>
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<b>Avery Bradley: 40-percent 3-point shooting</b>
Bradley made 40.7 percent of his 54 3-pointers last season. That's a good percentage, but it's probably not enough of a sample size to get a good read on his distance shooting. Bradley was a good shooter overall (49.8 percent), so there's no reason to think he can't continue that. Still, 40 percent seems high. We'll go just under at 39 percent.
<b>Prediction: Under </b>
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<b>Ray Allen: 0.5 TD Garden ovations</b>
The Celtics host the Miami Heat for the first time this season on January 27. Fans were angry when Allen chose Miami in free agency, and this is a town that tends not to forget these things. Still, Allen won a championship here and was instrumental in so many other runs. Let's hope fans take the high road.
<b>Prediction: Over</b>
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<b>Celtics: 5.5 wins vs. Miami</b>
The Celtics and Heat play four times in the regular season and could potentially meet again in the playoffs, where the teams battled it out in a seven-game series last year. If the teams split the regular season matchups, that means the first team to four more wins takes the playoff series and probably the Eastern Conference.
<b>Prediction: Under</b>
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<b>Fab Melo: 36 appearances</b>
Doc Rivers doesn't play rookies. Last season, rookies JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore appeared in 36 and 38 games respectively, averaging about 8 minutes each in mop-up performances. Sullinger is further along in his development, but Melo still has a lot of growing to do. The early guess here is that Melo fails to crack the rotation and spends some time in the D-League.
<b>Prediction: Under</b>
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<b>Celtics: 19 starting lineups</b>
The Celtics used 19 starting lineups last season. When healthy, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett are locks to start for Doc Rivers. Brandon Bass should also be the power forward. But shooting guard, where Jason Terry (pictured), Courtney Lee, and Avery Bradley all play, is more flexible this season. Garnett may also rest more over the course of 82 games.
<b>Prediction: Over</b>
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<b>Danny Ainge: 0.5 in-season trades</b>
Danny Ainge was active around the March trade deadline last season but didn't pull the trigger. The Celtics are committed to Rondo, Pierce, and Garnett going forward, so a big deal at this year's deadline seems unlikely. Ainge is always in the market for accessory pieces, but the guess here is the Celtics add waiver pieces rather than players in a deal.
<b>Prediction: Under</b>
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<b>Kevin Garnett: 70 games played</b>
There's no way Kevin Garnett plays 82 games this season, nor should he. The Celtics should give Garnett 10-15 maintenance days. Of course, any injury would mean Garnett misses further time.
<b>Prediction: Push</b>
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<b>Celtics: 53 wins</b>
The Celtics won 39 games in an abbreviated season last year, and they haven't won fewer than 50 games in a season since their championship season of 2007-8. Ray Allen is gone, but expectations are as high as they've been during the Big 3 era. Injuries could derail them, but barring that, it seems likely the Celtics will challenge for the East's 2d-best record. <br><b>Prediction: Under</b>
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